Phuket police investigate tuk-tuk driver after British boxer, 22, suffers critical fall

Phuket police are investigating a tuk-tuk driver after a 22-year-old British boxer fell from a moving vehicle and was critically injured during an early-morning fare dispute.

The injured passenger was identified in the source as Colin Cairney, a Scottish boxer. The incident happened in the early hours of June 14 as he was returning to his hotel in Phuket.

According to the source, an argument broke out over an unpaid fare. The driver then took the passenger to an ATM to withdraw money, but allegedly drove away at high speed while the passenger was at the rear of the vehicle, causing him to fall head-first onto the pavement.

Medics arrived at about 4:10 a.m. local time and found Cairney bleeding and unconscious in the middle of the road, the source said.

Doctors at Vachira Phuket Hospital have reportedly told relatives that he is clinically brain dead with no chance of recovery and is being kept alive on a machine.

Police Major Surachat Thongyai said CCTV footage shows the passenger falling from the moving vehicle, according to the source, but the footage has not been made public. Police believe the incident may have been caused by the driver's negligence after he continued driving away instead of turning into the hotel to drop the passenger off.

The driver has reported to the police station for questioning and could face charges including causing death by reckless driving, failing to stop and provide assistance, and failing to report the incident if the victim dies, the source said.

Cairney's family is arranging flights to Thailand while waiting for a police report and to view the CCTV footage, according to the source.

The source described Cairney as an amateur champion and said he held an unbeaten professional record of 10 victories from 10 fights and had won the WBO International Youth Welterweight Title.